Social Work Educationhttps://www.chydenius.fi/en/social-sciences/social-work-educationhttps://www.chydenius.fi/@@site-logo/logo.png

Social Work Education

Social Work is in Finland an independent, social science -oriented discipline. Teaching in social work takes place within six universities in Finland, and that at the Chydenius University Consortium in Kokkola forms part of the teaching provided by the University of Jyväskylä and conforms to its program and degree requirements. The main difference relative to the university itself lies in the fact that teaching is geared towards adults who are studying alongside their daily work. With this particular and permanent offer for adult part-time students of social work only, the University Consortium is unique in Finland.

Social Work studies as adult education means that it can be studied besides working in the field. The programs especially apply to the demands of working and family life of the adult students and take use of the particular chance of combing theory and practice directly. Our teaching is organized according to the methods of blended learning, which means that various forms of learning, i.e. contact seminars, internet-based courses and distance learning are connected. The contact seminars in Kokkola are offered in the evenings and at the weekends.

Offers at the level of BA-studies started in Kokkola in 2002 as part of the Open University program, providing a qualification which would enable students to go on to take a MA-degree. In 2006, a MA -program in social work was initiated within Unit of Social Sciences of the Chydenius University Consortium. It has an annual enrollment of 24 students and the part-time -students achieve their MA-degree generally in 2–3 years.

Doctoral Studies in Social work are offered at the Kokkola University Consortium as a part of the doctoral studies of the Social Work Unit at the main campus of the University of Jyväskylä. Students can also participate at the various international networks of Social Work doctoral training.

The social work team consists of a professor, a university lecturer, four university teachers, a study counselor and a department secretary. Four researchers are involved in the research- and development projects of the unit of social sciences. Further, three international doctoral students are part of the team. The particular emphasis of the Social Work teaching and research unit in the Kokkola University Consortium is focused on Citizens’ participation and user involvement in the fields of welfare services, including the people with migrant background. Another strength of our research is the ecosocial approach and , i.e. at a holistic view of the human welfare and environment, including the special issues and cultural research of rural environment.